Ever feel like Instagram knows a bit too much about your online activities? You’re not alone. Many websites share your data with Meta (Instagram‘s parent company) to serve you targeted ads. But don’t worry—you can take control. Here’s how to uncover who’s sharing your information and how to disconnect them.
Who’s Sharing Your Data with Instagram? Let’s Unmask Them
To discover which businesses are sharing your data with Instagram:
Open Instagram: Launch the app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
Access Settings: Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right, then select ‘Settings and privacy’.
Navigate to Accounts Center: Scroll down and tap ‘Accounts Center’.
Manage Your Information: Tap ‘Your information and permissions’.
Review Activity Off-Meta Technologies: Select ‘Your activity off-Meta technologies’.
View Recent Activity: Under ‘What you can do’, tap ‘Recent activity’. You might need to enter your password.
Here, you’ll see a list of companies that have shared your data with Instagram. While Meta doesn’t provide a detailed breakdown of the shared data, at least you know who’s been talking.
Cutting the Cord: Disconnect Those Sneaky Websites
Had enough of these data-sharing culprits? Here’s how to sever ties:
Select ‘Disconnect Specific Activity’: In the ‘Your activity off-Meta technologies’ section, tap this option.
Choose Offenders: Select the activities or businesses you want to disconnect.
Confirm Your Decision: Tap ‘Continue’ and then ‘Confirm’. Be aware that this might log you out from websites or apps where you’ve used Facebook for login.
The system may take up to 48 hours to process the disconnection.
FAQs
Q: Will disconnecting these activities stop all data sharing?
A: Disconnecting prevents future data from being linked to your account but doesn’t delete past data already collected.
Q: Can I prevent future data sharing altogether?
A: While you can’t stop websites from collecting data, you can limit what Meta does with it by adjusting your ad preferences and privacy settings.
Q: Does this affect my Facebook account too?
A: Yes, changes made in the Accounts Center apply across all Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
Taking these steps empowers you to manage your digital footprint and maintain better control over your personal information.
